Ps John - Don’t believe everything you think is right / Guard your mind from garbage.

Ps Nathan - Hit the reset button - purposing to renew your mind.

Key Scripture:

Judges 6:1–16 NSFLB

1Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years,2and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains.3So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them.4Then they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey.5For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number; and they would enter the land to destroy it.6So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.7And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord because of the Midianites,8that the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage;9‘and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land.10‘Also I said to you, “I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not obeyed My voice.’ ”11Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites.12And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lordis with you, you mighty man of valor!”13Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”14Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”15So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”16And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

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Judges 6:1–16 NSFLB

1Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. So the Lord delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years,2and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains.3So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them.4Then they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey.5For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number; and they would enter the land to destroy it.6So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.7And it came to pass, when the children of Israel cried out to the Lord because of the Midianites,8that the Lord sent a prophet to the children of Israel, who said to them, “Thus says the Lord God of Israel: ‘I brought you up from Egypt and brought you out of the house of bondage;9‘and I delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians and out of the hand of all who oppressed you, and drove them out before you and gave you their land.10‘Also I said to you, “I am the Lord your God; do not fear the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell.” But you have not obeyed My voice.’ ”11Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites.12And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lordis with you, you mighty man of valor!”13Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”14Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”15So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”16And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

Judges 1:1–16 The Message

1A time came after the death of Joshua when the People of Israel asked God, “Who will take the lead in going up against the Canaanites to fight them?”2And God said, “Judah will go. I’ve given the land to him.”3The men of Judah said to those of their brother Simeon, “Go up with us to our territory and we’ll fight the Canaanites. Then we’ll go with you to your territory.” And Simeon went with them.4So Judah went up. God gave them the Canaanites and the Perizzites. They defeated them at Bezek—ten military units!5They caught up with My-Master-Bezek there and fought him. They smashed the Canaanites and the Perizzites. 6My-Master-Bezek ran, but they gave chase and caught him. They cut off his thumbs and big toes. 7My-Master-Bezek said, “Seventy kings with their thumbs and big toes cut off used to crawl under my table, scavenging. Now God has done to me what I did to them.”They brought him to Jerusalem and he died there.8The people of Judah attacked and captured Jerusalem, subduing the city by sword and then sending it up in flames. 9After that they had gone down to fight the Canaanites who were living in the hill country, the Negev, and the foothills. 10Judah had gone on to the Canaanites who lived in Hebron (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba) and brought Sheshai, Ahiman, and Talmai to their knees.11From there they had marched against the population of Debir (Debir used to be called Kiriath Sepher). 12Caleb had said, “Whoever attacks Kiriath Sepher and takes it, I’ll give my daughter Acsah to him as his wife.”13Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb’s brother, took it, so Caleb gave him his daughter Acsah as his wife.14When she arrived she got himto ask for farmland from her father.As she dismounted from her donkeyCaleb asked her, “What would you like?”15She said, “Give me a marriage gift.You’ve given me desert land;Now give me pools of water!”And he gave her the upper and the lower pools.16The people of Hobab the Kenite, Moses’ relative, went up with the people of Judah from the City of Palms to the wilderness of Judah at the descent of Arad. They settled down there with the Amalekites.

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Psalm 51:1 NSFLB

1HAVE mercy upon me, O God,According to Your lovingkindness;According to the multitude of Your tender mercies,Blot out my transgressions.

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Background:

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[Middle English strif, from Anglo-French estrif, estri, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch striden to fight, Old High German strītan to quarrel—more at stride] 13th century

Israel in Apostasy - in oppression - an example to us if we compromise God’s word and be disobedient, we go into bondage.. we place ourselves in the hand of Midian - into misery (bondage is always misery)

They were weakened by their lack of obedience and devotion to the Lord.

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Background: Israel in Apostasy - in oppression - an example to us if we compromise God’s word and be disobedient, we go into bondage.. we place ourselves in the hand of Midian - into misery (bondage is always misery)

Midian, (Midianites) - strife, contention

Israel in Apostasy - in oppression - an example to us if we compromise God’s word and be disobedient, we go into bondage.. we place ourselves in the hand of Midian - into misery (bondage is always misery)

Midian was the son of Abraham and his concubine Keturah strife \ˈstrīf\ noun

strife \ˈstrīf\ noun

Judges 6:2 NSFLB

2and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains.

strife \ˈstrīf\ noun

[Middle English strif, from Anglo-French estrif, estri, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch striden to fight, Old High German strītan to quarrel—more at stride] 13th century

They were weakened by their lack of devotion to the Lord - They made themselves dens & strongholds in the dark places

Midian strives against the truth over our lives. It tries to exert its superiority, in fear, intimidation, trying to dominate and oppress through it’s lies. Thoughts that run contrary to the truth of the word, that try to take us to to the dark side.

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Judges 6:2 NSFLB

2and the hand of Midian prevailed against Israel. Because of the Midianites, the children of Israel made for themselves the dens, the caves, and the strongholds which are in the mountains.

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Judges

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Because of the Midianites, they made themselves dens & strongholds in the dark places.

When we believe the lies of the enemy, we retreat to the darkroom. We place ourselves in the hand of Midian - into misery (bondage is ALWAYS misery)

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Judges 6:3–5 NSFLB

3So it was, whenever Israel had sown, Midianites would come up; also Amalekites and the people of the East would come up against them.4Then they would encamp against them and destroy the produce of the earth as far as Gaza, and leave no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep nor ox nor donkey.5For they would come up with their livestock and their tents, coming in as numerous as locusts; both they and their camels were without number; and they would enter the land to destroy it.

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Camped there - take over - dwell in their place of fruitfulness, destroy their fruitfulness (destiny, creativity, growth, reproductive ability)

Midian, Midianites - strife, contention

Camped in their fields - take over - dwell in their place of fruitfulness, destroy their fruitfulness (destiny, creativity, growth, reproductive ability)

Midian, Midianites - strife, contention

Midian was the son of Abraham and his concubine Keturah

Camped in their fields - take over - dwell in their place of fruitfulness, destroy their fruitfulness (destiny, creativity, growth, reproductive ability)

Camped in their fields - take over - dwell in their place of fruitfulness, destroy their fruitfulness (destiny, creativity, growth, reproductive ability)

Come in like a plague of locusts - contending against the truth over your life

6So Israel was greatly impoverished because of the Midianites, and the children of Israel cried out to the Lord.

Israel was brought very low. Our lives become impoverished, if we give in to the lie.

Judges 6:

The enemy wants to oppress and stop you from becoming all God has intended you to be.

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We place ourselves in the hand of Midian - into misery (bondage is always misery)Chap 6 Israel was brought very low - the result

Judges 6:11 NSFLB

11Now the Angel of the Lord came and sat under the terebinth tree which was in Ophrah, which belonged to Joash the Abiezrite, while his son Gideon threshed wheat in the winepress, in order to hide it from the Midianites.

Chap 6 Israel was brought very low - the result

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Chap 6 Israel was brought very low - the result

Gideon was hiding, threshing wheat in the wine press

Gideon was hiding, threshing wheat in the wine press

Usually done on a hill or high place, so the wind could blow the chaff away and the heavier wheat would fall to the ground.

Gideon is threshing in the low dark lace of the wine press - always located in a valley.

Angel of the Lord (visible manifestation of God) came and waited under the terebinth Tree. God is there waiting, present, in our dark places, even when we don’t think anyone is there.

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Judges 6:12–16 NSFLB

12And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lordis with you, you mighty man of valor!”13Gideon said to Him, “O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, ‘Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?’ But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites.”14Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go in this might of yours, and you shall save Israel from the hand of the Midianites. Have I not sent you?”15So he said to Him, “O my Lord, how can I save Israel? Indeed my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my father’s house.”16And the Lord said to him, “Surely I will be with you, and you shall defeat the Midianites as one man.”

Judges 6:12 NSFLB

12And the Angel of the Lord appeared to him, and said to him, “The Lordis with you, you mighty man of valor!”

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Judges 6:

God’s truth - light into the darkroom.

Angel of the Lord (visible manifestation of God) came and waited under the terebinth Tree. God is there waiting, present, in our dark places, even when we don’t think anyone is there.

God spoke into Gideon’s darkness.

God’s truth - light into the darkroom.

The presence of the Lord is what makes us - a mighty man/woman of valour.

His presence enlightens the darkness. It is God in us and through us

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We defeat Midian

Gideon participated in a God dialogue

Philippians 4:14 NSFLB

Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress.

Philippians 4:8–9 NSFLB

8Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.9The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:14

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Submit to God - Gideon participated in God’s dialogue over his life.

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James 4:7 NSFLB

7Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

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James 4:7 NSFLB

7Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

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o change our thinkingPhillipians 4:14

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Keep close to the Lord, keep in His word. Be obedient. Make the God purpose over your life speak louder than any lie from the enemy. Obey the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Stay in His presence. Let God have his way in your life. Walk in repentance.

2. Resist the devil - Gideon did as God instructed and went on the offensive.

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Resist the devil

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2 Corinthians 10:3–6 NSFLB

3For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh.4For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,6and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled.

2 Corinthians 10:5 NSFLB

5casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ,

Realise that the you have authority over the enemy and can resist! Take thoughts captive and examine them for legitimacy against the plum line of the word of God.

A Psalm of David.THE Lordismy shepherd; I shall not want.He makes me to lie down in green pastures;He leads me beside the still waters.He restores my soul;He leads me in the paths of righteousnessFor His name’s sake.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,I will fear no evil;For You are with me;Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;You anoint my head with oil;My cup runs over.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow meAll the days of my life;And I will dwell in the house of the LordForever.

Psalm 139:1–12 NSFLB

O LORD, You have searched me and known me.You know my sitting down and my rising up;You understand my thought afar off.You comprehend my path and my lying down,And are acquainted with all my ways.For there is not a word on my tongue,But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether.You have hedged me behind and before,And laid Your hand upon me.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;It is high, I cannot attain it.Where can I go from Your Spirit?Or where can I flee from Your presence?If I ascend into heaven, You are there;If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.If I take the wings of the morning,And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,Even there Your hand shall lead me,And Your right hand shall hold me.If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,”Even the night shall be light about me;Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You,But the night shines as the day;The darkness and the light are both alike to You.